Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Iowa
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Iowa
Food insecurity is a widespread problem in the United States, with people experiencing food insecurity in every single county in the nation. The nonprofit Feeding America describes food insecurity as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."
Food insecurity hits children particularly hard. The USDA estimates that more than 5.5 million children lived in food-insecure households in 2021. Not having consistent access to enough food can affect cognitive abilities, overall health, moods, and attention spans—not to mention the psychological effects of living with scarcity.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Iowa with the highest rate of food insecure children using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of children with food insecurity as of 2020. Iowa has a child food insecurity rate of 11.0%, which ranks #8 lowest among all states.
States with the highest rate of food insecure children
#1. Louisiana: 21.5%
#2. New Mexico: 20.5%
#3. Mississippi: 20.4%
#4. Alabama: 19.8%
#5. Arkansas: 19.7%
States with the lowest rate of food insecure children
#1. North Dakota: 8.1%
#2. Massachusetts: 8.8%
#3. New Jersey: 9.0%
#4. Minnesota: 9.3%
#5. New Hampshire: 9.5%
Read on to see where food insecurity is most prevalent in Iowa.
#50. Butler County
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.1% (1,170 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $618,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#49. Greene County
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (770 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $403,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#48. Keokuk County
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (970 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $477,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#47. Hancock County
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.2% (870 total)
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $460,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#46. Union County
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (1,210 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $686,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
#45. Hardin County
--- 3.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (1,310 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $631,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#44. Kossuth County
--- 3.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (1,290 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $630,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#43. Jones County
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.8% (1,610 total)
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $816,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#42. Adair County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (630 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $357,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
#41. Clay County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.8% (1,420 total)
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $676,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#40. Linn County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.5% (16,980 total)
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,222,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#39. Monona County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (850 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $428,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#38. Winnebago County
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.6% (800 total)
--- 4.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $423,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#37. Jefferson County
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (1,790 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $833,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#36. Ringgold County
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.9% (390 total)
--- 3.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $196,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#35. Cerro Gordo County
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (3,560 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,883,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#34. Decatur County
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (810 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $447,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#33. Humboldt County
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (890 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $434,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#32. Clayton County
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (1,730 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $920,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#31. Jackson County
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (1,650 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $821,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#30. Mahaska County
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (2,090 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,028,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#29. Muscatine County
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.2% (3,100 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,532,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#28. Osceola County
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.3% (440 total)
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $210,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#27. Pottawattamie County
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (8,010 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,970,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#26. Emmet County
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.1% (760 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $362,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#25. Polk County
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (38,870 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,556,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
#24. Tama County
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.2% (1,400 total)
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $675,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#23. Van Buren County
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (670 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $313,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#22. Lucas County
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (870 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $456,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#21. Franklin County
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.2% (820 total)
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $434,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#20. Henry County
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (1,710 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $861,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#19. Fayette County
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (1,830 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $929,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#18. Woodbury County
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (8,500 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,276,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#17. Wright County
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (1,070 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $522,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#16. Audubon County
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (440 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $229,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#15. Marshall County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (3,390 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,634,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#14. Page County
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (1,390 total)
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $699,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#13. Montgomery County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (910 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $451,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#12. Scott County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.7% (15,060 total)
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,884,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#11. Clinton County
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (4,840 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,408,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#10. Floyd County
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (1,570 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $831,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#9. Webster County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (3,690 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,801,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#8. Wayne County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (620 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $325,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#7. Lee County
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (3,340 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,561,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#6. Black Hawk County
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (12,900 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,573,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#5. Crawford County
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (1,750 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $910,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#4. Wapello County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (3,880 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,806,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#3. Clarke County
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (1,020 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $562,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#2. Appanoose County
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (1,640 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $763,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#1. Des Moines County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (4,520 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,276,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13